Groups ask Tinubu to reject changes to tobacco law, seek new review

Civil society and health groups have urged President Bola Tinubu to reject changes to Nigeria's tobacco control law. They warned that some parts of the amendment could weaken protections against tobacco and nicotine addiction, especially among young people.

The groups made their request at a press conference in Abuja on Monday. The event was called “Why Nigeria Must Reject Harmful Amendments to the National Tobacco Control Act.” It was organized by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) along with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and other groups focused on tobacco control.

Besides asking Mr Tinubu to reject the changes, the coalition also called for the National Assembly to withdraw the National Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2025. They want a new review led by public health experts.

This demand came after the Senate approved the bill, which had already passed the House of Representatives. This brings the proposed changes closer to the President's decision.

During the press conference, CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi read the coalition’s statement. He said the groups support updating the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015, and its 2019 regulations. They want these updates to reflect changes in the tobacco and nicotine markets.

However, he added that such updates should not harm current public health protections. Mr Oluwafemi pointed out some positive aspects of the bill, like extending smoke-free zones to 30 metres around schools and healthcare facilities. He also mentioned including the Nigeria Police Force and the ministry responsible for youth development in the National Tobacco Control Committee.

But he stressed that these positive changes do not balance out the harmful changes the coalition is worried about. Therefore, they urged Mr Tinubu to reject the bill if it reaches him.

They also want the National Assembly to make public the committee reports, voting records, and stakeholder comments that influenced the final version of the bill. The groups further asked the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to clarify its stance on the bill. They demanded its recall if the ministry was not properly consulted during the process.

Michael Olaniyan, Country Coordinator of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), raised questions about how the bill was put together. He claimed it has parts that were not included in the documents from the House of Representatives’ public hearing in November 2024.

He noted that the earlier documents were four pages long, while the new version is 31 pages. “What we have now is a 31-page new document that suddenly came from a four-page combined document,” he said.

Mr Olaniyan questioned how the extra parts were added and which public health experts were involved in those changes. Mr Oluwafemi also expressed concerns about parts of the bill that could relax current rules on tobacco advertising and promotion.

He explained that the bill would allow ads for non-combustible products in adult publications, at points of sale, and online. It would also allow sponsorship of events for adults. He criticized the proposed definition of an “adult publication” as one with at least 50 per cent adult readers.

He said this could let publications with many young readers run ads for tobacco and nicotine products. Kenneth Anetot, Executive Director of A New Thing International Foundation, said allowing tobacco and nicotine products to be displayed at sales points could make them more visible and easier to access for young people.

He pointed out that adolescents are more vulnerable to addiction since their brains are still developing, especially areas that control decision-making and impulse control. He urged the National Assembly to recall the bill and involve more stakeholders in its review.

The coalition’s worries come as tobacco control advocates warn that tobacco use and nicotine addiction continue to be a major health and economic issue in Nigeria. The WHO says tobacco is a big risk factor for heart and lung diseases, over 20 types of cancer, and other serious health problems. It also states that tobacco kills more than seven million people worldwide every year.

In Nigeria, the NTCA has said that tobacco-related illnesses cost the country over N211 billion each year in healthcare and lost productivity. They also reported that nearly 30,000 people died from tobacco-related causes in 2021. The alliance noted that young Nigerians are being exposed to smoking, vaping, and shisha imagery through music videos, fashion, and digital platforms.

A recent study also found that tobacco marketing is targeting women and girls in Nigeria. This shows that the industry is changing its marketing strategies to reach new potential customers. The health and economic impact of tobacco has raised concerns about weakening the protections Nigeria has built over the years.

At Monday’s event, NTCA Coordinator Olawale Makanjuola said Nigeria has made good progress in tobacco control. He argued that some of its rules have become examples for other African countries. He mentioned efforts to control tobacco imagery in entertainment as one area where Nigeria has improved.

Mr Makanjuola warned that changes in the proposed amendment could undo some of these gains. He urged the government and lawmakers to make sure that any changes to the National Tobacco Control Act strengthen, not weaken, protections against tobacco and nicotine-related harm.